Automatic outfall for the tidal discharge of sewage



March 2, 1926.

' H. E. BRIGHT A01-mmm ou'rrALL Pon V'rma Timm Drscm'uit o1 sanos P11-ed oct. w. 1924 assunta-shut 1 March \2 1926. 1,575,094

H. E. BRIGHT AUTOMATIC OUTFALL FOR THE TIDAL DIVSOH'ARGB 0F SBUAGI 1o. 1924 le 2 Shoots-shut 2 www" Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES HAROLD EDWARD BRIGHT, OF HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND.

AUTOMATIC OUTFALL FOR THE'TIDAL DISCHARGE OF SEW'GE.

Application led October 10, 1924. Serial No. 742,937.

To all whomy t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, HAnoLD EDWARD BRIGHT, citizen of the Dominion of New Zealand, residing at Hamilton, in the Dominion of New Zealand, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Outfalls for the Tidal Discharge of Sewage, oi which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to means employed for controlling the discharge of sewage and the like into tidal waters, where the outgoing or ebb tide is utilized for disposing of said sewage and the like, and provides improvements in the type of sewage discharge control means, wherein the descent of a {'loat which risesand falls with the level of the tidal waters, is utilized to operate the control valve to permit of the discharge of sewage, the same descending movement of the float being further utilized at a later period to bring about thel closing of the sewage outlet.

In the aforesaid type of sewage discharge control means, the ioat was provided with a catch lever, which during the descent of the float engaged a cross head or catch block connected with the control valve and raised the latter.

Owing to the fact that the high water levels varied, it was foundV necessary to arrange the catch lever and the cross head or catch block so that the latter would be engaged by the Jformer, at the lowest high water level, likely to occur, with the result that when a spring tide occurred or whenever the high water level was 'above said lowest high water level, the earliest portion of the ebb tide was not utilized for the carrying seaward of sewage on account of the control valve not being lifted until the water level receded to that at which the catch lever and crosshead or catch block were arranged to interengage.

The main improvement provided by this invention consists in providing on the float a catch lever designed to engage and draw the cross head or catch block with it as soon as the water level commences to fall irrespective of whatV high water level has been reached, so that the control valve is raised to permit the discharge of sewage at the earliest possible moment after the tide has commenced to 'run out. n

The catch lever which is pvoted on the float and weighted to normally assume a vertical position is provided with an upper tooth adapted to engage the cross head or catch block at the lowest high water level likely to occur and with a lower tooth adapted to engage the crosshead or catch block at the greatest high water level while intermediate teeth are provided for engaging said cross head or catch block when the levels or" tides are located between the aforesaid limits.

Other improvements consist in providing an overflow passage from the chamber in which the control valve operates, should the latter for any reason fail to open, and in the construction and fitting of the various parts to ensure free working of the Ymoving parts.

`The invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a sectional elevation of the .means for operating the sewage discharge location of the apparatus inrrelation to a storage tank or reservoir.

The sewage is collected by means of reticulated pipe lines l and conveyed to a suitable storage tank or reservoir 2, the discharge of the sewage from the latter being controlled by means of a gate 3, which is opened to permit sewage to be discharged by the descent or falling action of a tide op erated float e, said float being later responsible for the closing ot the gate controlling the sewer outlet.

The float is accommodated in a suitable chamber 5 and is capable of vertical moven ment therein between vertical guides 6. The tide has access to the interior or' said float chamber for the purpose of operating the Aloat, through small openings or holes 7 located around the bottom of the chamber, said openings or holes, however, not being of sufficient size to permit of the surge or wave' action of the tide being transmitted to the water inside the chamber, so as to ensure that the `float 4 therein will rise or fall with a steady movement. The float is adapted to rise freely in its chamber during the flood of the tide, and in falling during the ebb of the tide, is adapted to engage a catch block 3 and draw the latter downwards.

fr chain 10 or thelike connected at one end to the catch block 3 passes over pulleys 11 and 12 and is secured at its other end to the control gate 3 located in a chamber 13 provided in the discharge pipe line 14 from the storage tank or reservoir 2, said gate 3 being adapted, when the catch block 3 is in its uppermosU position, to close the outlet l5 trom said chamber 13.

Brackets 1G secured to the top ot the lloat et project for some distance above the latter and are provided at their upper ends, which are situated above the water level in the chamber with rollers 17 or the like. adapted to worl: against the guides 6 between which the vfloat 11 operates, said guides 6 being preferably of channel cross section so that the rollers 17 can run therein, while semicircular projections 1S secure-d to tl e sides ot the float Ll near the bottom thereof also enter the channel shaped guides and operable vertically therein. By this means, the length ol bearing obtained at the sides of the float 41- Ain the guides 6 is greater than the diameter ot' the iioat il, thereby ensuring that the said float will rise and tail between the guides G without turning or jamming therein.

rllhe catch block 3 is mounted between vertical guides 9 so as to permit it to rise and fall freely between the latter, the lol` lowing method of attachment being preferr-ed.

Vertical recesses 19 (lfigure are provided in the sides of the catch block 3, to

pass upon the vertical guides 9 between which the latter operates, while rollers 2O secured in a traine 21 at the rear of the catch block 3 bear against the rear oi" the said guides 9 to prevent jamming of the catch block should any side strain be exerted thereon when the iroat l lis being released from engagement with the said catch bloclr As the llios-it falls in the chamber 5 on the ebb of the tide, it engages, by ineans to be hereinafter described, the catch block 8, and draws the latter down with it, the result of which is that the gate is raised and opens the outlet 15 thereby permitting sewage to escape and to be carried seawards by the outgoing tide.

rlhe float d contains a well 22 across which is mounted a horizontal shaft 23a carrying a centrally pivoted vatch lever 23, the upper portion ot' which is adapted to engage the aforesaid catch block 8.

lThe catch lever 23 is weighted or has its lower end made hea-vier than its ugper en so that thelatter when the catch lever ha tree or not in contact with any ente; agent assumes a ifertical position below the catch block 3. rlhe upper portion of the catch lever 23 contains a series ot ratchet like teeth 2Lidisposed vertically one above the other.

rEhe catch bloc-l 3 is hung from the chain lil connecting the same with the control gate 3, in a manner which ensures that it will rise and fall in its guides 9 without twisting or jamming, and is provided with a central lip 26 having a bevelled underside said lip 2G being adapted to be engaged and held by any one ot the ratchet like teeth on the upper portion of the lever 23, on the float l moving downwards in its guides G with the receding tide.

Assuming that the tide is commencing to rises, the sewage control gate 3 is shut, and the float is resting on the floor of the chamber As the water of the incoming tide enters the chamber 5, the float 4l therein until the top or the pivoted catch lever meets the under bevel tace 25 ot the catch block 8. As the l'loat continues to rise, this bevel tace 25 throws baclr the upper end of he lever 23 until the `first or uppermost atchet tooth 2i thereoi passes above the p 25 the catch block 3, when the lever 2 3 i ider the in'llnence oie its weighted lower end, swings bach to its normal or vertical posit-ion, thereby engaging the said ratchet tooth 2e!- on the lip 26.

rlhe heights and levels of the various v-:orling parts in the iioat chamber 5 are ged so that the engagement of the upper ratchet tooth 2l with the lip 2G of the catch block 3 will taire place at high water neap tide or at the lowest high water level lilrely to occur.

Vlhc bottom ratchet tooth 2i. engaging i ,e lip 2G at high water spring tide, while th intermediate teeth 24; are provided to cn gage the lip 2G at levels located between the limits mentioned.

The elieet of providing the ratchet toothed .tion 2li that the catch block 3 is i downwards by the i'ioat i. in'nncdiately the latter comimfnces to descend, and irresliective et the height the tide has reached.

On the tide turning and commencing to ebb, the combined weight et the float and catch block 3 being in excess of the weight oi' the gate 3, the latter is lifted as the float and block descend with the level of water in the lioat cl amber, thereby opening the outlet 15.

inclined plate oi' surface 27 formed on or secured to the bottoni ot' the 'float chainber 5 is so placed that as the lioat 4 in descending, nears the bottom of the chamber 5, the l wer or weighted end of the catch lever comes in contact with the said inclined plate 2i', the result ot which is that the catch lever 23 is delle ed or moved about its anis and withdraws its upper toothed portion from engagement with the catch block 8.

Immediately this occurs, the sewage control gate 3 falls by gravity in the chamber 13 and closes the outlet 15 from the latter', at the same time returning the catch block 8 to its raised position ready to be rie-engaged by the catch lever 23 when the float -l rises with the next succeeding flooding of the tide.

The control gate 3 is in the form of a webbed plate, the lower edge 3n of which is formed to provide a fairly sharp shearing edge, while a pair of arr' s or wings 30 extend above the upper edge of the gate at the sides thereof, to provide additional bearing surface against the guides 31 between which the said gate operates, in order to prevent turning or jamming of the latter in its guides.

The gate 3 is hung from its upper web, preferably by means of a link or links 32 attached to the lower end of a rod 33 which passes upwards through the top of the gate chamber 13 through a stuihng boi; 34 therein, the upper end of the said rod 33 being connected to the end of the chain connected with the catch block 3 in the float chamber 5. y

The gate 3 is adapted to rise and fall freely in its guides 31 and bears on a slightly battered face in order to ensure that the gate will at all times lie closely against the face containing the outlet and against the facing of its guides 31.

A collar or buffer 35 is formed on or secured to the rod 33, near the top thereof, while a spring 36 passed on the said rod between the collar or butter 35 and the top of the stuffing box 34, receives the weight of the gate 3 when the lat-ter is lowered or closed, and prevents the 4said gate from striking the floor of the chamber 13 as it falls in the latter to close the outlet 15.

Should the gate, however, in falling, compress the spring 36 to such an extent that the shearing edge 3a thereof strikes the floor of the chamber 13, a timber beam or buHer 37 is provided in said floor, to receive the impact of the shearing face 3a and so prevent the latter from being damaged.

lVhen the gate 3 has been raised to open the outlet 15, and the catch block 8 is disconnected from the float 1, the gate 3 falls with considerable impetus until checked by the spring 36 between the stumng box 3l and the collar or buffer 35 on the rod The reaction of the spring 36 causes some little vibration which leaves the gate hanging free, yet bearing closely against the facing containing the outlet 15.

The lower or shearing edge 3a of the gate 3, with the impetus and weight of the falling gate behind it, shears across the outlet 15 and through such sludge, rags, small sticks or the like as may have lodged therein, larger obstructions having been removed from the sewage by screening the latter before it leaves the storage tank or reservoir 2, to ensure a perfect closure of the outlet 15 by the gate 3.

In order to provide means whereby the action of the float Ll and other parts in the chamber 5 may be observed without intertering with the action thereof, the float chamber is extended to one side, or a separate chamber 29 communicating with the float chamber is provided alongside the late ter, such chamber 29 being provided with a manhole 20a or the like, whereby a person can enter it and observe the action of the various part-s contained in the float chamber.

An opening adapted to be normally closed y a suitable plate or cover can be located in the side of the chamber 13, and when provided is large enough to permit" the removal therethrough of the gate 3, should it be desired at any time to replace or repair the same.

In the event of the gate 3 becoming jannned or blocked and the sewage in the storage tank or reservoir 2 rising above a predetermined safe level, means can be provided to discharge said sewage through the gate chamberr13 independently of the gate 3. y

riccordingly, an outlet or overflow 3S is provided from the chamber 13 near its upn per end and in the same horizont-al plane as the highest level which it is desired that sewage should attain in the tank or reservoir 2. This outlet 3S is connected by means of a pipe 3S) to the pipe Ll() which normally carries the sewage from the discharge outlet 15 into tidal water.

On the sewage reaching its highest safe level in the storage tank 2, the former will rise to a corresponding level in the chamber 13 and overflow through the outlet 38 and pipe 39 into the pipe l0 from whence it will be discharged seawards;

wWhen the storage tank or reservoir 2 is located at a higher level than the top of the gate chamber 13, the overflow pipe 38 from the latter is not provided, and the top of the said chamber 13 is completely closed to prevent any leakage of sewage therethrough. In this case an overflow pipe can be proviued from the storage tank or reservoir 2.

What I do claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States ,of America is:

1 In apparatus wherein a sewage control gate is operated to open an outlet by means of a descending float, a ratchet-toothed catch lever pivotally mounted on the float, a catch block connected with the gate and arranged to be engaged by the ratchet-toothed catch lever whereby the control gate begins to open as soon as the leat commences to descend, substantially as described and illustrated.

Q. ln apparatus wherein a sevrage control gate is operated to open an outlet by means of a descending lleat, a. ratchettoethed catch lever pivotally mounted on the float, a catch bloei: connected with the gate and arranged to be engaged by the ratchettoothed catch lever whereby the control gate begins to open as soon as the fioat commences to descend, the catch lever havingl a series of teeth extending` from an upper tooth, adapted 'to engage the catch block at a high Water neap tide, to a lower tooth, adapted to engage the catch block at a high Water sprine tide, substantially as describe( and illustrated.

In apparatus wherein a sewage control gate is operated to open an outlet by means of a descending` iloat, a ratchet-toothed catch lever pivotally mounted on the float, a catch block connected with Jdie gate and arranged to be enga jed by the ratchet-toothed catch lever whercoy the control gate begins to open soon as the float commences to descend, brackets on the float, rollers carried by the brackets above the Water level. projections on the float, and vertical guides for receiving and guiding` the rollers and projections, substantially as described and illustrated.

Ll. ln apparatus wherein a sewage control gate is operated to open an outlet by means of a descending iioat, a ratchet-toothed catch lever pi fotally mounted on the float, a catch block connected with the gate and arranged to be enga-ged by the ratchet-tootl'ied catch lever -whereby the control fate begins to open as soon as the float commences to descend, guide rails, the catch bloclr being` recessed to pass between the guide rails, rollers carried by the block and operable against the rails, a lip on the block having a. bevelled under surface, the lip being engageable by the ratchet-toothed catch lever, substantially as described and illustrated.

Signed at Hamilton in the Provincial Districtof Auckland, in the Dominion of New Zealand, D.

HAROLD EDlVARD BRIGl'rl this 27th day or" Anglian' 

